When it comes to your wedding day you want everything to go as planned. To achieve this you would require professional guidance. Depending on your needs you could hire a professional wedding planner who is also a project manager( most people don't know this) to take charge of achieving everything you dreamed of. Another alternative is to have someone point you in the right direction . If you’re finding the task of organizing your wedding stressful it doesn’t have to be if you choose a good wedding planner.

Advantages
Wedding planners are an invaluable asset to any bride to be. After all it’s not every day that you get married and they can help take you through all the stages of wedding preparation namely pre wedding, wedding and post wedding .A wedding planner should be there to reduce your stress levels so choosing someone who has good reference or experience can't be overemphasised.


Having the services of a wedding planner is advantageous especially if you are clear about what you want. To be absolutely sure before you even chat to a potential wedding planner, decide what you want help with and what your expectations would be of any potential wedding planner. Maybe you don’t know the first thing about flowers or negotiating a catering deal, cocktails etc. Be clear from the start and have everything in writing. After all, this person is supposed to reduce your stress levels.
Thirdly, if you’re unsure of your wedding vision the great thing about a wedding planner is that they come with tons of advice and invaluable experience which you can draw upon. What’s more, you can be sure they know the wedding suppliers and businesses in the local area.


Disadvantages
Soliciting the services of a wedding planner doesn't come cheap some charge a fixed flat rate others a percentage of the total wedding cost .But bearing in mind that they are to reduce your stress level and provide you with impartial advice, spending a few extra bucks isn't a high price to pay.

Overview of the Duties of a Wedding Planner

In Nigeria, the duties of a wedding planner is an emerging one. Previously, people where just interested in cakes baking, decoration, catering , drinks, photography maybe videography and ushering services. There wasn't really any job role designated "wedding/event planner" though it was popular in the west. But as the stress of organising and co-ordinating a mammoth task like wedding became real, so did the need to have someone who would oversee the entire event from inception to completion ease the stress of potential couples. Most wedding planners are decorators also.


That explain, going on to the area of wedding planning, there are three main areas that would be explained namely post wedding checklist, wedding checklist and post wedding checklist.


The pre wedding checklist are


1. Attend wedding preparation class and get approval
2. Have a wedding budget
3. Buy wedding rings
4. Pick venue for the wedding and rent canopies if applicable.
5. Pick a date (after 1 above is satisfied)
a.) wedding date
b.) Bachelor and bachelorette party (if applicable)
c.) Other events
6. Pick friends and people that would serve as
a.) Bridesmaid
b.) Groomsmen
c.) flower girls
d.) ring bearer
7. Pick colour of the Day and wedding theme. then;
a.) Pick a decorator (communicate colour and theme to him/her);discuss
venue decoration, church decoration, and decoration of bridal train
b.) Pick a baker (communicate colour and theme to him/her)
c.) Choice of what to wear( for bride, groom, bridesmaid, grooms men, ring bearer and
flower girls ( if using a tailor communicate colour and theme to him/her)
8. Pick a caterer
9. Pick a cocktail maker (*sometimes the caterer can do this)
10. Pick a small chops and samusa maker
11. Pick a refreshment serving company/ outfit
12. Print Invitation
13. Print Church Program
14. Print RSVP card ( if applicable)
15. Sell aso-ebi
16. Pick a videographer (if applicable)
17. Pick a Photographer
18. MC and DJ services
19 Live Band ( if applicable)
20. Get Married!


Wedding day checklist


i.) Before-you-leave-for-church-cheaklist
1. Wake up
2. Take bath
3. Dress up
a.) Bride
b.) Groom
c.) Bridesmaid
d.) Groomsmen
4. Arrival of ring bearer and flower girls
4. Arrival of make of artist (if applicable)
a.) Making up of Bride
b.) Making up of bridesmaid
c.) Making up of flower girls
5. Arrival of bridal train cars
6. Arrival of decorator( to decorate bridal train and add about to wed banner)
7. Arrival of photographer
8. Arrival of videographer ( if appliccable)
9. Eat Breakfast
10. Leave for church

At-the-Church-Venue Checklist

1. Distribute wedding program
2. Ensure photographer is working
3. Ensure videographer is working
4. taking of group pictures by photographer after church activity
5. Replacement of About to wed to just wedded banner by decorator
6. leave for wedding reception

At-the-Church-Venue Checklist


1. Ensure Hall has being adequately decorated by decorator
2. Ensure tables and cutlery has been set by caterer
3. Ensure DJ and MC has arrived
4. Ensure Life Band has arrived( if applicable)
5. Ensure drink servers have arrived and are chilling the drinks
6. Ensure Security and Ushering personal are in place ( if applicable)
7. Ensure videographers are working
8. Ensure photographer are working
9. Co-ordinate all wedding activities

Post wedding check list[/b]Post wedding check list
1. Attend after party
2. Go on honeymoon

[b]Roles and Responsibilities of the major player in a successful wedding

A. Hall Decorator

1.) Access the venue and charge accordingly
2.) Decorate event according to colour of the day and wedding theme
3.) Wrap chairs (if applicable)
4.) Put table cover and decorate high table
5.) Cover back stage with lights and any other decor


B. Wedding Cake Baker

1.) Understand Client needs
2.) Bake and decorate cake according to colour of the day
3.) Decorate cake table
4.) Set-up cake on the day of the wedding
5.) Explain the cake on the day of the wedding
6.) Share cake to guest after cake cutting by bride and groom



C. Caterer

1.) understand client need and charge accordingly
2.) Cook appetizer, main course and dissert ( which ever is applicable)
3.) Come with adequate serving equipment and personnel
5.) Set up tumbler, spoons, plates and plate charger
4.) Serve guest


D. Refreshment/ drink servers

1.) Understand client needs
2.) Chill drinks brought
3.) Come with sufficient wine and bottle openers and serving personnel.
4.) Serve drinks to the quest.

E. Travel agent

1.0 Assist in choosing and booking honeymoon destination
2.) Assist in Visa application
3.) Assist in Hotel booking / reservation
4.) Assistance in procuring Flight tickets


As I have taken time to explain possible question that could arise from potential clients, only serious clients should contact me. for speedy reply please use my email adddress cakesandevent@ymail.com

Regards
CakesandEvents.